Submitted by Fraser Rodgers
One night after having their 23-game wins streak end, the Penticton Vees looked like a team that might not be beaten again as they steamrolled the Coquitlam Express 8-2 on Saturday.
Tyson Jost led the pack with a goal and five points and five Vees had two or more points. Easton Brodzinski and Dante Fabbro each scored twice, while Scott Conway, Chris Gerrie and Demico Hannoun added solo markers. The Vees exploded for five goals in the first and three more in the second before cruising to their 24th win in 26 games. Anthony Brodeur made 25 saves to improve his record to 15-0-0.
The home team opened the scoring as Austin McIlmurray scored 64 seconds in on the Express’ first shot after the initial attempt was blocked. Brodzinski evened things up with his BCHL-leading 12th power-play goal four minutes later. Conway fired a pass from circle to circle and Brodzinski finished it off. Hannoun grabbed the Vees their first lead halfway through the first on a great individual effort. In the right-circle, Hannoun dragged the puck around the defender and after falling to his knees, fired a shot over Tyger Howat’s shoulder at 10:37. Fabbro then scored his first of two in the opening frame just after the 12-minute mark. The defenceman crept down from the point and Jost found him open in the middle at 12:03. That goal proved to be the winner as Taylor Green scored for the Express on the power-play with 15 seconds remaining in the period.
Saturday was the second time this season the Vees have scored eight goals. They last did it against Merritt in an 8-4 win on Halloween night. Conway extended his point streak to 23-games and Jost's is at 13-games. Jost also moved back into the BCHL scoring lead with 54 points in 26 games, one up on Nanaimo’s Sheldon Rempal.
Penticton (24-2-0-0) is now off until Wednesday, Nov. 25 when they host the Vernon Vipers at the SOEC at 7 p.m. Wednesday marks the first of five straight at home and the Vees have won all 11 games they’ve played at the SOEC this season.
In other BCHL action, the Langley Rivermen doubled up the Trail Smoke Eaters 4-2, the Wenatchee Wild defeated the Chilliwack Chiefs 3-2. The Nanaimo Clippers needed overtime to dispatch the Cowichan Valley Capitals 4-3. The Prince George Spruce Kings earned a 4-3 win at home over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs whipped the West Kelowna Warriors 10-5 and the Powell River Kings doubled up the Merritt Centennials 6-3.